Bale tie interlock device

ABSTRACT

A plunger slidable in a channel for moving one end of a bale tie through the other end of the bale tie to interlock the same.

United States Patent 1 [1 3,863,297

Simich Feb. 4, 1975 BALE TIE INTERLOCK DEVICE Primary ExaminerD0nald A. Griffin l [75] Inventor Em! Slmlch Chlcago Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Johnson, Dlenner, Emrich [73] Assignee: A. J. Gerrard & Company, Des & Wagner Plaines, Ill.

[22] Filed: May 24, 1974 [21] Appl. No.1 472,944

[57] ABSTRACT A plunger slidable in a channel for moving one end of [58] Fie'ld 100/3 24/27 a bale tie through the other end of the bale tie to interlock the same.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures 3,477,363 11/1969 Trumbo 100/34.

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1 BALE TIE INTERLOCK DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to a device adapted to be mounted in a baling press for interlocking the ends of a bale tie disposed about a bale of cotton or the like located in the press.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The bale tie interlock device of the present invention includes a body member defining an elongated channel. An elongated plunger is longitudinally slidable in the channel and projects outwardly of one end thereof in a loading position. First hook means is provided at one side face of the channel intermediate of the ends thereof for engagement by one preformed loop end of a bale tie inserted into the other end of the channel. Second hook means is provided on the plunger for engagement by the other preformed loop end of the bale tie inserted at the one end of the channel. The plunger is movable from its loading position inwardly of the channel to move the other bale tie end through the one bale tie end to interlock the same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a baling press incorporating a plurality of devices embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the baling press of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the device of the present invention with the plunger in its inward-most position;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view ofthe device with the plunger in its outer loading position;

FIG. 5 is a partial bottom view of the device with the plunger in an intermediate operating position;

FIG. 6 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a partial bottom view of the device with the plunger in a different intermediate operating position;

FIG. 8 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 in FIG. 7 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a partial bottom view of the device with the plunger in a still different intermediate operating position;

FIG. 10 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line l.0l'0 in FIG. 9 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 11 is a partial'bottom view of the device with the plunger in its inwardmost position;

FIG. 12 is a partial longitudinal sectionalview taken substantially along the line 12-12 in FIG. 11 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 13 is a bottom view ofthe opposedendsections of a bale tie in an intermediate interlocked position;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the portion of the bale-tie of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of ,the.opposedendsections of the bale tie in a terminal interlocked positionforming a knot;

FIG. 16 is a side view oftheportion of the bale-tie of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 isan end view. of.the device of-the presentvinvention;

FIG. l8=is an opposite endview ofthe device;

FIG. 19 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line l9-- 19 in FIG. 4 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 20 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 20-20 in FIG. 6 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 21 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 21-21 in FIG. 6 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 22 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 2222 in FIG. 8 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIG. 23 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 23-23 in FIG. 12 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a baling press 24 comprising a stationary base platen 26 and an upper movable platen 28 actuated by a ram 30. Mounted in the base platen 26 are a plurality of slotted guide members 32, and mounted in the movable platen 2 8 are a corresponding number of bale tie interlock devices 34 embodying the principles of the present invention. Located between the platens 26 and 28 is a bale of cotton 36 about which bale ties 38 are adapted to be disposed and secured in a manner to be presently described.

Each bale tie interlock device 34, as shown for example in FIGS. 3 and 4, comprises an elongated body or channel member 40 and an elongated plunger 42.

The body member 40 defines an elongated channel 44 generally U-shaped in cross section having first and second inner side faces 46 and 48 and an inner web face 50. As shown in FIGS. 3-6, a hook plate 52 is removably secured by means of screws 54 to the first inner side face- 46 along the outer longitudinal edge thereof intermediate of the ends of the channel 44. The hook plate 52 is formed with an offset hook portion 56 extending in the direction of the right end of the channel 44, and serves to define first hook means. As shown in FIGS. 3-6 and 1:8, a backup bar 58 is secured by means of screws.60 along the first inner side face 46 between the right end of the channel 44 and. the hook plate 52. The inward end of the backup bar 58 is spaced a short distance from the hook portion 56. A guide bar 62, which may be secured to or formed integrally with the backup bar 58, is provided adjacent the rightendof the channel 44. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 117., a retainer bar 64 is suitably secured to the first inner side face 46 along the outer longitudinal edge thereofbetween the left end of the channel 44 and the hook plate52. A backup bar.66,,which may be secured to or formedintegrally with the retainer-bar.64,extends along the first inner side face 46and terminates short of-the inwardend of the retainerrbar64. The hook portion 56 andthe inner longitudinal edges of the bars 58, 6 2 and 66 are spacedfromthe inner web face 50to accommodate theplunger 42. As shown for example in FIGS. 5 and 6, a stop member 68 is secured as by screws 70.-to the secondinnersideface .48 adjacentthe outer longitudinal edge thereof intermediate of the endsof-the channel 44. .In addition, .as shown .in FIGS. 3, l7,and ;l8,.thebody-member.40,has suitably secured thereto, as by welding, end flanges 72 which are adapted to be removably connected to the upper movable platen 28 by means of screws 74.

The plunger 42, as shown for example in FIGS. 17 and 18, is generally L-shaped in cross section with horizontal and vertical leg portions 76 and 78. The horizontal leg portion 76 is slidable along the inner web face 50 and is guided by the adjacent edge ofthe backup bar 58 and the adjacent surface of the guide bar 62. The vertical leg portion 78 is slidable along the second inner side face 48. As shown for example in FIGS. 3, l2 and 20, the leg portion 78 is formed with a longitudinal cutout defining a recessed edge 80, a shoulder 81, and an end stop projection 82 which is engageable with the stop member 68 to limit longitudinal movement of the plunger 42 outwardly of the body member 40. Suitably secured along the recessed edge 80 is a guide rail 84. As shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 23, the vertical leg portion 78 is also formed with an intermediate L-shaped side pocket 86 in which a hook plate 88 is removably secured by means of screws 90. The hook plate 88 is formed with a hook nose portion 92 extending in the direction of the left end of the channel 44, and serves to define second hook means. In addition, a cam block 94 (FIGS. 3 and is suitably secured to the vertical leg portion 78 adjacent the hook plate 88, and an apertured flange 96 (FIGS. 4 and 18) is suitably secured to the outer end of the plunger 42.

One type of bale tie 38 with which the bale tie interlock device 34 of the present invention is adapted to be used, as shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, comprises an elongated body section 98 with engaging end sections 100 and 102 formed at the opposite ends thereof. The engaging end sections 100 and 102 respectively include loop portions 104 and 106 and free arm portions 108 and 110. The loop portions 104 and 106 are oppositely curved (FIG. 6) and are'oppositely inclined (FIG. 5).

When tying a bale of cotton or the like, bale ties 38 are placed in the slotted guide members 32 of the baling press 24, a bale of cottom 36 is placed on the base platen 26 and compressed by the upper platen 28, the ends of the bale ties 38 are inserted in the bale tie interlock devices 34 and interengaged, and the upper platen 26 is elevated permitting the tied bale to be removed.

Each bale tie interlock device 34 operates as follows:

First, the bale tie end section 100 and adjacent body section 98 are pushed into the left end of the channel 44. During initial travel, the loop portion 104 engages the inner end of the plunger 42 and pushes the latter from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the loading position shown in FIG. 4. During this initial travel, the loop portion 104 is guided between the backup bar 66 and the inner side face 48, and is retained in the channel 44 by the retainer bar 64. As the stop projection 82 approaches and engages the stop member 68, the loop portion 104 slides off the inner end of the backup bar 66 and shifts sidewise. During subsequent travel, the end section 100 rides over and is guided by the plunger rail 84 as shown in FIG. 4, and the loop portion 104 is retained in the channel 44 either by the retainer bar 64 or the body portion of the hook plate 52. During final travel, the loop portion 104 snaps over and into engagement with the hook portion 56 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Next, the bale tie end section 102 and adjacent body section 98 are inserted into the projecting end of the plunger 42, and the loop portion 106 is engaged with the hook portion 92 as shown in FIG. 4. Then, the

plunger 42 is pushed inwardly of the channel 44 to the position shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The inwardmost position of the plunger 42 may be established, for example, by engagement of the plunger shoulder 81 with the stop member 68, or by engagement of the plunger flange 96 with the end of the body member 40. During initial travel of the plunger 42, the loop portion 106 is guided by the backup bar 58, and is maintained in contact with the inner face of the plunger side pocket 86 by confinement of the adjacent body section 98 between the backup bar 58 and the cam block 94. During final inward travel of the plunger 42, the end section 102 is moved toward (FIGS. 5 and 7) and through (FIGS. 9 and 11) the end section 100 to interengage the same. More specifically, the end section 102 is moved over the portion of the body section 98 near the end section 100, while the portion of the body section 98 near the end section 102 is moved through the end section 100. The free arm portions 108 and 110 are momentarily spread away from the adjacent portions of the body section 98 (FIG. 10) as the end sections 100 and 102 are snapped therepast.

After the bale tie end sections 100 and 102 have been I interengaged as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the plunger 42 is moved slightly outwardly from the position shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, and the end sections 100 and 102 are moved relatively toward each other through the position shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 to the position shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 to thereby form a secure knot. Finally, the upper platen 26 of the baling press 24 is elevated, and the bale tie interlock devices 34 are thus retracted from the knotted bale ties 38 to free the tied bale 36.

In the bale tie interlock device 34, there is only one moving part: the plunger 42. Mere longitudinal movement of the plunger 42 effects interlocking of the ends ofa bale tie, an interlocked bale tie is automatically positioned for separation from the interlock device during retraction of the latter, and return of the plunger 42 to its loading position is effected by insertion of one end of another bale tie in the channel 44. As will be appreciated from the present disclosure, the device 34 is convenient to operate, efficient and reliable in operation, simple and inexpensive to fabricate and assemble, and easy to disassemble as may be required for repairs.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. For use with a bale tie having preformed first and second end sections which include loop portions, a bale tie interlock device comprising a body member defining an elongated channel generally U-shaped in cross section, an elongated plunger longitudinally slidable in said channel and disposable to project outwardly of one end thereof in a loading position, first hook means in said channel intermediate of the ends thereof and engageable by the first bale tie end section inserted into the other end of said channel, second hook means on said plunger and engageable by the second bale tie end section inserted into said plunger at said one end of said channel, and said plunger being movable from said loading position inwardly of said channel to move the second bale tie end section through the first bale tie end section to interengage the same.

2. The bale tie interlock device of claim 1 wherein said plunger is movable outwardly of said channel toward said loading position to accommodate relative movement of the interengaged first and second bale tie end sections toward each other to form a knot.

3. For use with a bale tie having preformed first and second end sections which include loop portions oppositely curved and oppositely inclined, a bale tie interlock device comprising a body member defining an elongated channel generally U-shaped in cross section having first and second inner side faces and an inner web face, an elongated plunger longitudinally slidable in said channel and disposable to project outwardly of one end thereof in a loading position, first hook means at said first inner side face intermediate of the ends of said channel and engageable by the first bale tie end section inserted into the other end of said channel, second hook means on said plunger spaced from said first hook means and engageable by the second bale tie end' section inserted into the outwardly projecting end of said plunger, said plunger being movable from said loading position inwardly of said channel whereby to move said second hook means longitudinally past said first hook means to thereby move the second bale tie end section through the first bale tie end section to interengage the same, and said plunger being movable outwardly of said channel toward said loading position to accommodate relative movement of the interengaged first and second bale tie end sections toward each other to form a knot.

4. The bale tie interlock device of claim 3 including a retainer bar extending from said other end of said channel along said first inner side face adjacent the outer longitudinal edge thereof for retaining the first bale tie end section in said channel during insertion of the former in the latter.

5. The bale tie interlock device of claim 4 including a backup bar extending from said other end of said channel along said first inner side face for guiding the first bale tie end section in said channel during insertion of the former in the latter, and a backup bar extending from said one end of said channel along said first inner side face for guiding the second bale tie end section during inward movement of said plunger.

6. The bale tie interlock device of claim 5 wherein said plunger is generally L-shaped in cross section with a vertical leg portion slidable along said second inner side face and a horizontal leg portion slidable along said inner web face, and including means carried by said body member for guiding said horizontal leg portion of said plunger during longitudinal movement thereof.

7. The bale tie interlock device of claim 6 including a guide rail extending along said vertical leg portion of said plunger between the inner end of the latter and said second hook means for guiding the first bale tie end section into engagement with said first hook means.

8. The bale tie interlock device of claim 7 wherein said first hook means is defined by a hook plate secured to said first inner side face and having a hook portion extending in the direction of said one end of said channel, and wherein said second hook means is defined by a hook plate secured to said vertical leg portion of said plunger and having a hook portion extending in the direction of said other end of said channel.

9. The bale tie interlock device of claim 3 wherein said plunger is generally L-shaped in cross section with a vertical leg portion slidable along said second inner side face and a horizontal leg portion slidable along said inner web face.

10. The bale tie interlock device of claim 9 including a guide rail extending along said vertical leg portion of said plunger between the inner end of the latter and said second hook means for guiding the first bale tie end section into engagement with said first hook means. 

1. For use with a bale tie having preformed first and second end sections which include loop portions, a bale tie interlock device comprising a body member defining an elongated channel generally U-shaped in cross section, an elongated plunger longitudinally slidable in said channel and disposable to project outwardly of one end thereof in a loading position, first hook means in said channel intermediate of the ends thereof and engageable by the first bale tie end section inserted into the other end of said channel, second hook means on said plunger and engageable by the second bale tie end section inserted into said plunger at said one end of said channel, and said plunger being movable from said loading position inwardly of said channel to move the second bale tie end section through the first bale tie end section to interengage the same.
 2. The bale tie interlock device of claim 1 wherein said plunger is movable outwardly of said channel toward said loading position to accommodate relative movement of the interengaged first and second bale tie end sections toward each other to form a knot.
 3. For use with a bale tie having preformed first and second end sections which include loop portions oppositely curved and oppositely inclined, a bale tie interlock device comprising a body member defining an elongated channel generally U-shaped in cross section having first and second inner side faces and an inner web face, an elongated plunger longitudinally slidable in said channel and disposable to project outwardly of one end thereof in a loading position, first hook means at said first inner side face intermediate of the ends of said channel and engageable by the first bale tie end section inserted into the other end of said channel, second hook means on said plunger spaced from said first hook means and engageable by the second bale tie end section inserted into the outwardly projecting end of said plunger, said plunger being movable from said loading position inwardly of said channel whereby to move said second hook means longitudinally past said first hook means to thereby move the second bale tie end section through the first bale tie end section to interengage the same, and said plunger being movable outwardly of said channel toward said loading position to accommodate relative movement of the interengaged first and second bale tie end sections toward each other to form a knot.
 4. The bale tie interlock device of claim 3 including a retainer bar extending from said other end of said channel along said first inner side face adjacent the outer longitudinal edge thereof for retaining the first bale tie end section in said channel during insertion of the former in the latter.
 5. The bale tie interlock device of claim 4 including a backup bar extending from said other end of said channel along said first inner side face for guiding the first bale tie end section in said channel during insertion of the former in the latter, and a backup bar extending from said one end of said channel along said first inner side face for guiding the second bale tie end section during inward movement of said plunger.
 6. The bale tie interlock device of claim 5 wherein said plunger is generally L-shaped in cross section with a vertical leg portion slidable along said second inner side face and a horizontal leg portion slidable along said inner web face, and including means carried by said body member for guiding said horizontal leg portion of said plunger during longitudinal movement thereof.
 7. The bale tie interlock device of claim 6 including a guide rail extending along said vertical leg portion of said plunger between the inner end of the latter and said second hook means for guiding the first bale tie end section into engagement with said first hook means.
 8. The bale tie interlock device of claim 7 wherein said first hook means is defined by a hook plate secured to said first inner side face and having a hook portion extending in the direction of said one end of said channel, and wherein said second hook means is defined by a hook plate secured to said vertical leg portion of said plunger and having a hook portion extending in the direction of said other end of said channel.
 9. The bale tie interlock device of claim 3 wherein said plunger is generally L-shaped in cross section with a vertical leg portion slidable along said second inner side face and a horizontal leg portion slidable along said inner web face.
 10. The bale tie interlock device of claim 9 including a guide rail extending along said vertical leg portion of said plunger between the inner end of the latter and said second hook means for guiding the first bale tie end section into engagement with said first hook means. 